Coffee Appreciation

anyone noticed a change in the monmouth organic espresso blend?

Had it really nicely dialled in but the last two batches I've struggled with - the puck is really swelling after pulling a shot. The shot takes about 18 seconds to come start coming through and the result is a very bitter shot with little crema - any thoughts?

Sorry Wayne, only just seen this. The recipe changed a week or two ago, out has gone the Peru Tunki, replaced by Nicaragua Tres Pueblos, that will have changed the extrction a touch. Plus we had the roasting machines serviced, and we turned the gas down for summer, all in the last couple of weeks. Not ideal I know but unavoidable. We're shipping organic blend out the door about as fast as we can roast it so freshness should be bang on. If you're still struggling to get it dialled just drop it back and we'll see if there's a problem wih it. those with the funny haircuts in he shops will see you right :)

That may have been my inspiration :-)

Oh, I should bump that LMNH event tomorrow:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/449464718473117/

A short series of free introductory talks revealing some of the intricacies of the Worlds of Coffee and Cycling. A shared celebration of focus, attention to detail and obsession. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned pro, come and learn from the experts in the friendly atmosphere of Look Mum No Hands!

The event is free entry, come-and-go-as-you-please, and will feature 3 short 15-20 min introductory presentations from leading lights in the UK and World coffee industries and 3 presentations on cycling from ...Europe's leading bikefitters, CycleFit. (Please consult the event photo/flyer for full details!)

We felt that the similarities between these two worlds far outnumber any differences, with many cyclists loving their coffee and many coffee professionals having an enduring love for the bicycle. Why not combine the two; to share the knowledge and education in a free and inviting way?
With tremendous thanks to Look Mum No Hands!, CycleFit, Hasbean, Square Mile Coffee and Crediton Coffee Company.

Anyone going to this?

I'm going on my tod.

^ I'll more than likely go too (on me tod), provided the heavens don't open in the next 30 mins or so... If I do go, I let you know dude

Yeah, PM me if you are there.

Heading out in a few mins. I'll be wearing a cap I got from some forum I've heard is full of poseurs and skidderz (for I.D. purposes only of course). There in 25 mins or so

Cool. I'm in a green t-shirt and horrible denim jeans. Awesome white Sidis though.

Has anyone been on a coffee tasting/making course?

I'm looking for something to do for moogette's birthday so a casual 1/2 day or day is what in after instead of something aimed at people wanting to go in to the industry.

May have been covered elsewhere, but whats the best hand grinder for home use?

Personally using a Porlex to great effect.

Porlex is the lfgss certified grinder if you're on a budget. Personally I'm very pleased with mine.

+1 Porlex

Currently revisiting one of the first coffees I ordered, the Costa Rica Finca de Licho by Hasbean. Brewing nicely as SO espresso in the classic.

Just had a cup of this El Salvador Natural from Has Bean. Preferred this in the Aeropress for acidity reasons. It has the cherry fruit flavour as described and is quite sweet:

http://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/el-salvador-finca-argentina-fincona-2-tablon-bourbon-natural

Also quite excited about the new Kenyans coming out, particularly like the sound of the Kirimahiga. Says it's not suitable for espresso, but I'm willing to experiment. Hope that Monmouth get something as super-blackcurranty as they did last year.

http://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/kenya-kirimahiga-washed-aa

So who was at the LMNH coffee thing last night?

Personally using a Porlex to great effect.

Porlex is the lfgss certified grinder if you're on a budget. Personally I'm very pleased with mine.

+1 Porlex

cheers, will look into it!

If anyone spots a modest sized burr grinder please let me know- my father is till using his blender, which makes me wince everytime he blitzes the beans in it.

I have a Dualit branded version of the solis starbucks grinder, which is quite small: http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/grinders/starbucks_barista_grinder

I modded it to go 2 settings finer than the factory setting (no burr rub), and with some beans it's fine enough to pull a 30+ second shot, so it can just about do espresso if you're lucky. Otherwise it's great for french press, moka, drip filter etc.

£30 ono? Can post.

So who was at the LMNH coffee thing last night?

Jim and I, plus whoever else turned up!

It was really good. Stephen Leighton and James Hoffmann are really interesting to listen to, and I think I learned quite a bit.

Stephen mentioned that their Cachoeira is one of his favourite coffees of all time, I'm glad he said that, as it's probably the best espresso I've ever had (and it's a single origin).

I have a Dualit branded version of the solis starbucks grinder, which is quite small: http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/grinders/starbucks_barista_grinder

I modded it to go 2 settings finer than the factory setting (no burr rub), and with some beans it's fine enough to pull a 30+ second shot, so it can just about do espresso if you're lucky. Otherwise it's great for french press, moka, drip filter etc.

£30 ono? Can post.

That looks promising- how big is it?

In my mind's eye it's 30cm tall with a 10x15cm footprint. I can PM you exact size later/tomorrow morning when I'm at home.

Jim and I, plus whoever else turned up!

It was really good. Stephen Leighton and James Hoffmann are really interesting to listen to, and I think I learned quite a bit.

Stephen mentioned that their Cachoeira is one of his favourite coffees of all time, I'm glad he said that, as it's probably the best espresso I've ever had (and it's a single origin).

Did you try the crediton coffee company Honduras? It was the final free coffee.

In my mind's eye it's 30cm tall with a 10x15cm footprint. I can PM you exact size later/tomorrow morning when I'm at home.

Sounds good, as long as those dimensions are fairly close I will take it.

Did you try the crediton coffee company Honduras? It was the final free coffee.

Yes. It was a darker roast than the Has Bean and Square Mile, and I felt that it had been over-extracted a bit, possibly as a result of being brewed for the same duration as the other two. So, it was a little bitter, and slightly flat tasting to me. The other two both had good acidity and maybe a little toffee (I got confused as to which was which out of HB and SM though!).

I asked the roaster from Crediton if he had a web shop, and to be honest, it was because he made no mention of how we could buy coffee from them. He said that I could only order by phoning and requesting an order that way. Unless, they are happy working like that (for all I know they may get great sales to cafes, etc.) I think they should get a web shop. It can't be that hard, and for a specialist business like theirs (daily roasting micro lots of coffee), they may be able to attract a lot of customers across the UK.

cheers, will look into it!

If you find one, let me know where – I've been looking for a replacement for mine after I catastrophically broke it (entirely my fault, nothing to do with the quality of the product) and my understanding is that there aren't any in the country at the moment. Whoever imports them is obviously having some challenges.

Good news for those of you who were worried about the state of my espresso machine – I went down to the friendly guys at Doppio in Kentish Town on Saturday to ask about my leaky grouphead and they gave me a slightly deeper gasket seal. I was skeptical about whether this was going to fix the problem (and slightly miffed to have to dig out the new one I put in only a week or so ago), but lo and behold it's now nice and tight and pulling beautiful shots once more.

Anyone got a good recommendation for a travel grinder? Something not too big or heavy.